Wall construction, including upper and lower panels and diagonal strips joining the same



May 26, 1953 A. s. NEVES 2,639,471 WALL CONSTRUCTION, INCLUDING UPPER A LO R PANELS AND DIAGONAL STRIPS JO NG s Filed March 21 19 Fig./.

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Inventor Alfred 5. Neves Patented May 26, 1953 WALL CONSTRUCTION, INCLUDING UPPER AND LOWER PANELS AND DIAGONAL STRIPS JOINING THE SAME Alfred S. Neves, Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii Application March 21, 1949, Serial No. 82,540

3 Claims.

This invention relates to novel and useful improvements in construction methods and construction elements.

An object of this invention is to join a pair of spaced panels together by means of strengthening members which form portions of each panel and which are rigidly connected to each of said panels.

Another object of this invention is to so construct panels for use in buildings and the like that a rigid structure results to insure against undesired movement occasioned by earthquakes and wind particularly.

Another object of this invention is to form panels for use in building construction obviating a great number of the normal studs which would be required by providing non-horizontal and non-vertical strengthening members fixed to the upper member and the lower member of the particular panel under consideration and also fixed to the studs.

Ancillary objects and features of novelty will become apparent to those skilled in the art, in following the description of the preferred form of the invention, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of one form of the invention; and

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substan-' tially on the line 22 of Figure l and in the direction of the arrows.

It is one of the prime purposes of the present invention to economize on expensive materials of construction by using certain members which are disposed with respect to panel framing so that flecture is reduced to a minimum when the construction is subjected to a load either by wind, earthquake or by any other normal outside force such as live loads and dead loads.

By utility of the panels as described in the drawings, when a load is subjected to the two panels, for example a Wind load assumed to exert a force equivalent to thirty pounds per square foot of exposed vertical surface, the two panels would ordinarily tend to shift. But, the two panels are connected together thereby lowering the horizontal plane of contra-fiecture, bringing it toward the joists in the instance where a two-story building structure is provided.

Ordinarily, the point of contra-fiecture in a building wall of two stories is lowered slightly by having the studs tied down at the bottom of the panels. However, if the two panel structures themselves had portions connected together, the contra-fiecture point of each panel would be lowered, the upper panel reacting on the lower one. The attendant advantage of such a structure is in the reduction of the bending moment.. Accordingly, lighter material may be employed and in the instant invention a great number of studs may be obviated.

There are many embodiments of the present invention which may be resorted to in carrying forward the principle and concept involved herewith. For illustrative purposes, only one has been taken under consideration. A fire stop or upper horizontal timber I0 is illustrated and has an intermediate horizontal timber I2, such as a two-by-four, disposed thereunder. The fire stop or upper timber I 0 is appreciably wider than the intermediate timber I2, the said upper timber I0 overhanging both sides of the inter mediate timber. A lower .horizontal timber I4 is disposed in spaced relationship with respect to the intermediate timber I2 and is of substantially the same thickness and width. A number of studs I6 extend from the intermediate timber to the lower timber in the expected and usual manner but are spaced further apart than the usual I6" centers, now conventional in building structure.

A number of non-horizontal, non-vertical strips I8 are provided on each edge face of the intermediate and lower timbers I2 and I4, respectively. The strips I8 run in one direction on one face of these timbers and in an opposite direction on the other face. Accordingly, a cries-cross effect results as is shown in Figure 1.

Certain of the strips are fixed to at least two studs, while others simply extend from one stud to the lower timber or the upper timber, being fixed at their ends thereto.

A second identical panel formed of an upper horizontal timber constituting a fire stop, an intermediate horizontal timber and a lower horizontal timber and studs, is supplied in spaced relationship with respect to the first described panel.

A bottom plate 20 is disposed beneath the lower timber I4 and rests on joists 22, forming a floor foundation. These joists separate the upper frame assembly from the lower frame assembly and ultimately the upper panel from the lower panel.

The two panels being disposed as shown in Figure 1 form in this instance a part of a Wall of a house or other structure. Since the strips I8 depend downwardly, although diagonally disposed with respect to the two frame assemblies and structures, they connect the upper panel and the lower panel forming parts thereof. Accordingly, fiecture in the upper panel is transferred to the lower panel when the wall structure and assembly is subjected to a wind load or any other type of load normally occasioned in structures.

At the foot of the lower panel, additional joists 28 are illustrated and in this :zinstance 'form a part of a floor structure, when they are covered by conventional flooring.

The front plates 30 and 32, respectively, cap the ends of the joists and serve as shims to build up the wall structure, whereby disposing the strips on the outside surfaces of the intermediate and lower timbers l2 and 14 (in the upper panel) and the equivalent timbers 35 -ands38 f thelower panel, form a flush finish, the thicknesses of the strips being such as to take up the differences in width of the upper timber and the intermediate and lower timbers.

.Of course, windowopenings as shown at 40 are provided wherever it .is deemed advisable and also, aperturesfor door frames may .besupplied. In connection with door .frames and window frames, the usual headersare provided thereover and the usual sub-sill maybe .used, as found desirable.

The relationship of the size of the window in Figure 1 with respect to the distance between the studs shows .clearly that the studs are spaced apart materially more .and farther than in a conventional arrangement. An inherent advantage of such stud arrangement is that litlis unnecessary to cut a number of studs in connection with applying windows and doors in the system and structure.

The stripsareapplied either on one surface, the other surface or both surfaces. The .latter arrangement is preferable.

It is apparent that certain variations may be made without departing from the spirit of the in vention.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. .A building constructioncomprising a panel including upper, lower and intermediate horizontally disposed timbers, said timbers being parallel to each other and extending the full width of the panel, saidupper timber overlying and restingon said intermediate timber and being wider than said intermediate timber .and said lower timber being substantially the .same widthv timbers, a second panel including an upper timber, joists secured between the lower timber of the first named panel and the upper timber of the second panel retaining the two panels spaced apart, said second panel having studs and diagonal spaced apart strips secured to the studs of said second panel, some of said first-named strips extending from said first mentioned panel and being'fixed to the studs-of said second panel.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said inner set of strips are disposed at right angles to .said .outer set of strips.

3. A building construction comprising upper and slower vertically disposed coplanar panels, each of said panels including intermediate and lower parallel horizontal timbers extending the .full width of the panels, studs joining the intermediate and lower timbers, an upper horizontal timber overlying and secured to the intermediate timber of the upper panel and being wider than theintermediate timber and,projecting therefrom along each side, inner diagonal spaced apart strips secured to the inner faces of the studs and the intermediate timber of the upper panel, and outer diagonal spaced apart strips secured to the outer faces .of the studs and the intermediate timber of the upper panel, said inner strips being at right angles to said outer strips, certain strips of said upper panel extending across and-being secured to the studs of the lower panel, thev intermediate timber of thelower panel and the lower timber of the upper panel, a bottom plate underlying the lower timber of the upper panel, a front plate extending between said bottom plate and the upper timber of the lower panel, and joists secured between said bottom plate and the upper timberof .thelowerpanel and engaging the front plate.

.ALERED S. NEVES.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES 'PA'I-ENIS Number Name Date 1,697,611 Kupelwieser Aug. '7, 1928 2,407,004 Guignon, Jr. Sept. 3, 1946 FOREIGN QPATENTS Number Country Date 553,315 France Feb. 8,1923 330,312 Italy of 1935 OTHER REFERENCES Printed publicationl-l'ouse Construction Details by Nelson L. Burbank. Copyright 1942--2nd Edition, published by Simmons-BoardmarrPublishing Corporation, New .York city. Page 36. 

